The 19-year-old student from the New South Wales city of Wollonggong, who inherited his love for music from his Filipino musician father, beat fellow finalist Louise Adams at the conclusion of a two-day grand final on Tuesday night.
The youngest contestant this year, Villanueva had come into the finals as the overwhelming favorite, the only finalist who had never landed in the bottom two.
With his victory, he became the second consecutive Filipino-Australian to achieve the feat. Marlisa Punzalan, a shy 15-year-old whose parents were both immigrants from Bataan, won last year.
Villanueva, who was mentored by American rocker Chris Isaak, bagged a recording contract with Sony Music Australia with his victory.
He broke down in tears when he was announced as the winner. The top 12 finalists and rushed to the stage and hoisted him on their shoulders.
By then Villanueva was too overcome with emotion to close out the show with a reprise of his winner’s single, “Stone”. During the final, he also performed The Weeknd’s “Earned It”, a repeat of his audition, and Labrinth’s “Jealous”.
source: interaksyon.com
